NEOPHRON. <i 



7- OtOgypS calvUS, G. R. Grav, Gen. B. i. p. 4 ; Jcrd B. nf Ind. vol. i. 

 p. 7, No. 2 ; Hume, Sir. F. vol. viii. p. 370 ; Sharpe, Cat. Ace. Br. Mus. p. 14; 

 l\Inrray, Ildbk. Zool. $v. Sind ; Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, p. 62. Vultur 

 calvus, Scorp. Del. Faun, el Flor. Insbur. vol. ii. p. 85. V. pondicerianus, 

 Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 7 ; Ran-Gidh, JBhaonra, Hind. ; Wudda Gidh, Sind. 

 The BLACK VULTURE. 



Adult. Glossy black, inclining to brown on lower back and rump, some 

 of the scapulars also washed with brown. Quills black, the shafts white, 

 becoming brownish towards the tips. Secondaries whitey brown, blackish 

 towards their tips. Tail black, shaded with brown, the shafts brownish. Crop 

 patch black. A circlet of white down across the breast, and a patch of white 

 above the thigh joint. Under parts of body deep black. Inner face of 

 thighs bare. A small black ruff round the neck, the feathers impending and 

 partially concealing the bare patches on each side of the breast. Bill black . 

 legs dull red ; iris reddish brown. 



Length. 31 to 33 inches; culmen 2-5; wing 24-5; tail 10 to ii; 

 tarsus 4-1. 



Jlab. This is spread nearly all over the continent of India and not unlike 

 V. monachus affects the hilly districts in Sind. It is a permanent resident 

 wherever it occurs. Nest varies from 2\ to 4 feet in length and breadth, with 

 usually a lining of leaves. It lays a single egg, pale greenish white, spotted 

 or unspotted with purplish ; generally a round oval, varying in size from 3*2 

 inches to 3*5 in length, and from 2*45 to 2*8 inches in breadth. It is said 

 to breed on inaccessible cliffs from January to April. 



Sub-Family NEOPHRONIN^E, SCAVENGERS. 



Bill lengthened, slender ; nostrils longitudinal, nearly in the middle of the 

 bill, perforated, and without bony septum. 



Gen. Neophron. Savigny. 

 Characters, same as those of the family. 

 8. Neophron ginginianus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 7 ; Biyth, Ibis, 1866 ; 



Jcrd. B. of Ind. i. p. 12, No. 6 . Sharpe, Cat. Ace. Br. Mus. p. 18 ; Humf, 

 Sir. F. vol. i. p. 150 ; Rough Notes, i. p. 39; Murray, Hbdk. Zool, fyc. Sind, 

 p. 105 ; id. Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 64. The WHITE SCAVENGER VULTURE or 

 PHARAOH'S HEN OF BRUCE. 



Adult. Yellowish or creamy white. Quills black, neck hackles long, 

 lanceolate, tinged somewhat rusty; secondaries dark brown and, like the 

 quills, internally ashy white at base. Mead bare, throat with a little scanty 

 down ; a lew white feathers in front of the eye. hides reddish brown ; < crc 



